denmire



Sept. 4,1923. v y 467.143

H. A DENMIRE FABRIC RING STRETCHING AND APPLYING DEVICE Filed Feb. 5, 1921 2 SheetS-Sheet l septal, 192:3. 1,467.14?,

H. A. DENMIRE FABRIC RING STRETCHING AND APPLYING DEVICE` Filed Feb. 5, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet l-2' Patented Sept. 4, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD A. DENMIRE, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOB, TO THE GENERAL TIRE ANI) RUBBER COMPANY, OF AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATON OF OHIO.

FABRIC-RING STRETCHING AND APPLYING DEVICE.

Application filed February 3, 1921.

To all 107mm t may concern.'

Be it known that l, HAROLD A. DENMIRE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented Ia certain new and useful improvement in Fabric-Ring Stretching and Applying` Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

There is a method of making pneumatic tire casings which consists in first making each ply of friction fabric up into the form of a fla-t ring of considerably smaller diame'ter than the core on which the tire casing is to be formed. The fiat fabric ring so produced is manually stretched and pulled onto the core. This is hard work, and slow work, and, in addition, this method of stretching' the friction fabric ring does not produce uniform stretching thereof. Therefore it is customary after the fabric ring has `been placed upon the core to pull and haul on it until the stretching is distributed as nearly uniformly as possible.

The present invention is a mechanical contrivance by means of which the flat frictioned fabric rings may be uniformly stretched to the required degree and applied to the core; the invention consisting, in the construction and combination of parts shown in the drawings and hereinafter described and pointed out definitelyin the appended claims.

ln the drawing, Fig'. 1 is a side elevation of the fabric ring stretching and applying device; when the fabric ring is being engaged thereby but before the rinpj has been stretched. Fig. 2 is a diametrical section of the parts shown in Fig. l, and of the core, when the fabric ring' has been stretched for application to the core. Fig. 3 is a radial section on line of Fig. 1 showing' the position of the parts when the ring' has just been applied to the core; and liig. i is a` plan view of the pipes and controlling Valve therefor through which pressure fluid flows to and from the cylinders.

YReferring to the parts by reference characters, represents a cylindrical frame of considerably larger diameter than the core 12 in connection with which it is to be used. This frame carries aplurality of flatI hooks 2O located within the frame and approximately at equal intervals. These hooks are supported by the frame and are associated Serial No. 442,154.

with mechanism by which they may be simultaneously moved away from the axis of the frame so as to uniformly stretch a fric- 4tion fabric ringY which has been hung` on the hoolrs when they were in what may be walled the contracted positions.

ln `the specific construction shown each hook is associated with one or more radially disposed pneumatic cylinders 16 which are lixedly secured to the frame 1() and. lying for most part outside thereof. Each of these cylinders provided with a piston 17 and a piston rod 18 which extends toward the axis of the frame 10; and the base 21 of the hoolr is connected with these two piston rods. By admitting air to the inner end of the tw@ pistons associated with each hook, the hook will be moved forcefully away from the axis of the frame.

la the construction as shown there are twelve of these hooks each being associated with the two cylinders for expanding them. All of the cylinders in one row may be connerted by pipes with a source of compressed air which may be controlled by a single valve 19 so that by the openingof that valve empressed air will be admitted simultancously to all of the cylinders, so that all of the hooks will be simultaneously moved outward to the expanded position. l'n the construction shown each of these hooks is also associated. with another cylinder 16 provided with a piston 17 and piston rod 1S, each piston rod being,r connected with a hook. The ou ter ends of these cylinders may `be all connected together with a common source of compressed air supply by pipes 15 and may be controlled by a faire, in fact, the one valve 19 being provided with passages adapted in different positions of the 'aire to place either of the pipes l5 or l5 .in ronnnnuication wiih the pressure line and the other with the atmosphere. whereby the ialve may control the flow of fluid to and from both sets of cylinders in such wise that when the compressed air is admitted to the hook expandinn' cylinders it will be allowed to escape from the heolr contracting` cylinders, and Tice versa.

In the use of this contrivance the frame is movably suspended, as by chains which allow considerable freedom of movement to the frame. Then the hooks are in their contracted position, as shown. in Fig. 1, a

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ring- 30 of trictioned fabric is hung upon the hooks in substantially the manner shown, so that the hooks extend from one side ot said ring 30 about to the middle thereof. Then the hooks are expanded thereby uniformly expanding the 'fabric ring. Then the entire Ytrame is moved over the core until it occupies a position in relation thereto substantially as shown in Fig. 3, 4and then the hooks are allowed or caused to move toward their retracted positions. This deposits the center of thel fabric ringupon the center et the core. The trame supporting the hooks may then be moved still it'urther to the right thereby freeing;` the hooks from the fabric ringzj which is now on the core7 and said iabrie ringy may then e stitched down upon the core in the usual way.

The hooks, or rather the fabric engaging parts 20 oil the hooks is made separate from the base 2l thereo't, and has an upturned llange 201 at its rear end. A bolt 22 which is screwed into the hook member 20 goes loosely through a hole 2i in the base member 2l, and has a head 2lb engaging` the outer face of said base member. This furnishes a pivotal connection between the hoolr member 2O and the bar 2l. The inward movement, beyond the position shown in Fig. 2` is prevented by the engagement olI flange 20' with the member 2l. But when the hooks have all been moved to their retracted positions in order to apply the stretched Jfabric ring to the core7 the Yfabric engaging ends oli the hook .members 2l) may engage the core, an d may swing;l to the position shown in Fig. 3. This assists in properly applyingv the fabric ring to the core, and 'facilitates the withdrawal of the hooks from the fabric ring.

Havinga described my invention, l claim:

l. An annular iframe combined with a plurality of hooks, located inside oi said 'trame and having` portions adapted to engage the inner side of a fabric ring, and means 'for connecting' the hooks with the tra-me, and for simultaneously .moving all of said hooks away from the aXis ol3 the frame.

2. An annular trame combined with a plurality oi hooks, located inside oli said frame, and means for connecting the hooks with the frame, and for simultaneously moving" all of said hooks away from the axis oi, the frame, and. a core ol: such diameter that it may be made to lie Within said annular 'frame when the hooks carried thereby are in their expanded positions.

3. An annular trame combined with a plu rality of hooks, located inside of said trame, and means for connecting the hooks with the frame, and for simultaneously moving' all of said hooks away from the axis ot the trame, the means for connecting the hooks with the trame and for imparting theV required movements to the hooks consisting;` et cylinders lined to the frame, pistons therein, and piston rods extending trom the inner ends oit said cylinders and connected with said hooks.

et. Avn annular frame combined with a plurality of hooks, located inside of -said trame, and means for connecting the hooks with the frame, and tor simultaneously moving;1 all ot said hoolrs away trom the axis ol? the trame, the means tor connecting the hooks with the frame and for imparting` the required movements to the hooks consisting ot cylinders lixed to the frame, pistons therein, and piston rods extending 'troni the inner ends of said cylinders and connected with said hooks, and other cylinders supported by said trame,each having a piston and. an inwardly directed piston rod which is connected with one ot said hooks, means for simultaneously admitting` pressure tlnid to all ot the cylinders of the lirst named n'oui') and :tor permitting` the escape oit pressure fluid 'from the cylinders of the second Irony-and vice versa.

5. An annular 'frame combined with a plurality olli hooks located inside of said trame, and means for connecting` the hooks with the trame, and for simultaneously moving all ot said hooks away from the axis ot the frame, the means for connecting" the hooks with the frame and for imparting the required movements to the hooks consisting' of cylinders fixed to the frame, pistons therein, and piston rods eXte-nding'-3trom the inner ends of said cylinders and connected with said hooksj each hook comprising a plate to which the piston rods are attached and an inner fabric-engaging member having' a pivotal connection with said plate, and means for limiting said vpivotal action.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto allix my signature.

HAROLD A. DENMIRE. 

